Allegorie van het jaar 1788

Christian Bernhard Rode created this drawing, Allegory of the Year, sometime in the 18th century. Rode was working in a period defined by the Enlightenment and the rise of Neoclassicism. The artwork presents a classical female figure surrounded by children, symbolizing the abundance and continuity of the year. The composition speaks to the values of the era: reason, order, and an idealized vision of humanity. But consider the historical context. Who is represented in this scene? And who is missing? Where are the working class, the poor, and the marginalized? The image evokes a sense of idealized harmony and social order, yet it also silently reinforces existing power structures by excluding other narratives. It asks us to reflect on the stories we tell about ourselves and whose voices are amplified. It reflects the long-standing tradition of allegorical representation, even as it hints at the complexities and exclusions inherent in such idealized visions.